[0001] The invention relates to a seat modification assembly for use with a passenger seat
provided in a passenger cabin of an aircraft but also for use with a passenger seat
provided in any other mass transport vehicle, such as, for example, a bus or a train.
[0002] In modern means of transport, particularly in an aircraft, there is currently no
possibility of modifying the seating comfort on demand. The provided passenger seats
are designed to meet the ergonomic demands of an average passenger. In other words,
the seat comfort, the operating comfort, the spring comfort and the seat height, which
directly influence the choice of the cushioning structure of the passenger seat, are
chosen so as to meet the ergonomic demand and size of an average passenger.
[0003] When designing a passenger seat, particular attention is given to the aim to achieve
an excellent seating comfort, i.e., a relaxed sitting position for the passenger.
In order to prevent muscle tension of a passenger when sitting in the seat, a moulded
set geometry is provided. To further enhance the seating comfort, a not too soft and
not too hard cushion, an ergonomic seating profile, a comfortable depth of the seat
bottom cushion and also a comfortable seat height and degree of backrest angle is
chosen. However, all these features only meet the comfort demands on a good sitting
position of an average passenger.
[0004] As merely every passenger has a different body size and also a different perception
of what is a comfortable sitting position, there is the demand to create a higher
flexibility in passenger seat layout in order to allow a more individual adoption
of the seating comfort. Self-control of the ergonomic layout of a seat is common nowadays
in many everyday-situations, such as, when sitting on an office chair or in a car.
Thus, the demand to also have this option in an aircraft or any other mass transport
vehicle raises, especially in view of a long travelling time.
[0005] A way of comfort modification for a passenger seat is already known from document
DE 10 2008 053 140 B3 which shows a passenger seat having an adjustable seat surface. The seat surface
is comprised of two seat bottom cushions respectively mounted to a seat shell element.
The seat shell elements are slidable relative to one another so that a first front
seat bottom cushion may be slided over a second seat bottom cushion abutting a back
cushion. Thereby, a size and height of the seat surface may be adjusted.
[0006] A further way of comfort modification for a passenger seat is known from document
WO 1999/016638 A1. According to
WO 1999/016638 A1, not only the back rest but the whole seat, i.e., the back rest and the sitting surface
of the seat, may be pivoted backwards so as to maintain the seating comfort in various
inclined positions.
The underlying object of the present invention is to provide a higher flexibility
in passenger seat layout, especially with regard to passenger individual demands and
safety.
[0007] This objection is achieved by a seat modification assembly as defined in enclosed
independent claim 1 and an aircraft passenger seat as defined in enclosed independent
claim 14.
[0008] The seat modification assembly according to the invention is designed for use with
a passenger seat provided in a mass transport vehicle, such as, for example, a bus
or a train, and especially for use with a passenger seat provided in an aircraft.
The seat modification assembly comprises at least one seat modification element which
is adapted to change the ergonomic seating profile of a passenger seat provided with
the seat modification assembly. The at least one seat modification element may be
configured as a seat booster and/or a back support, such as, for example, a lumbar
support, and/or a headrest or head support.
[0009] The at least one seat modification element of the seat modification assembly comprises
at least one mounting means adapted for detachably mounting the seat modification
element to a portion of the passenger seat with which the seat modification assembly
may be provided. Preferably, each seat modification element comprises two said mounting
means. Said at least one mounting means may be a zip or a velcro, especially one of
two zip or velcro elements adapted for interaction with one another, whereas the other
zip or velcro element does not form a part of the mounting means of the seat modification
element of the seat modification assembly but is provided on the passenger seat with
which the seat modification assembly is to be used. However, instead of a zip or velcro,
every other known means adapted for detachable attachment of two parts to one another
may be chosen as the at least one mounting means.
[0010] Advantageously, seat modification elements of the seat modification assembly may
be provided in different degrees of hardness, so that a passenger may choose the degree
of hardness of a seat modification element he or she wants to use according to his/her
own preference. It is also conceivable that a seat modification element of the seat
modification assembly has different sections of different degrees of hardness. These
different degrees of hardness for different sections of the seat modification element
may be chosen in dependence of the purpose the seat modification element is to fulfil
with regard to improving the ergonomic seating comfort of the passenger.
[0011] A first seat modification element of the seat modification assembly may be a seat
booster. Such a seat booster may be provided in different dimensions, especially in
different heights, so as to fulfil the requirements with regard to different seating
heights. For example, a rather high seat booster may be used for children to allow
them to sit in a safety position within the passenger seat or for people having long
legs so that they have more comfort in positioning their legs and do not have to sit
in an uncomfortable position with highly angled legs. Children sitting in a raised
position in a passenger seat are also more attentive when travelling, as their all-around
visibility is improved. In this regard, the seat booster may especially be designed
as a child seat so as to allow a child to sit in a normal passenger seat, especially
within an aircraft, in a safer and more comfortable position. In this special configuration,
the seat booster may be designed as or in accordance with a child seat known for cars.
Providing passenger seats booked for small children, having an age in which they are
supposed to use a child seat in a car, with a seat modification element in the form
of a child seat on the one hand allows the child to sit in a more secure and comfortable
sitting position and on the other hand also raises the overall comfort of the child
sitting in the passenger seat. From such a raised position, for example, a screen
provided in the back of the passenger seat in front is better visible.
[0012] Generally, the seat booster may be designed as or, irrespective of its special configuration,
at least in accordance with a normal seat bottom cushion with regard to the moulded
seating geometry and seating depth and also with regard to cushion hardness. In other
words, the seat booster may provide the same comfort as a normal bottom cushion of
a passenger seat but in a more raised position.
[0013] It is also conceivable that there are seat boosters especially designed for handicapped
passengers, such as those using a wheelchair. Further, there is the option for everybody
to buy a specially designed seat modification assembly manufactured according to his
or her individual preferences. This is especially advantageous for disabled people
with the need for a decubitus prophylaxis pad, for frequent travellers or also for
passengers suffering from back pain, for example, or simply preferring an individualized
seat modification.
[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, especially in view of the seat booster being
formed as a child seat, the seat booster is provided with seat width narrowing means.
In other words, the seat booster may be provided with means defining a narrowed seating
surface. Such seat width narrowing means allow to keep thin and small passengers,
such as children, in a predefined position within the passenger seat. To raise the
seating comfort of the passenger, such seat width narrowing means may be provided
with armrests. According to an advantageous embodiment, the seat width narrowing means
of the seat booster are adapted to allow adjustment of a width of the seating surface
of the seat booster. In other words, the width of the seating surface may be adjusted
in accordance with the individual demand of the passenger by the seat width narrowing
means. The seat width narrowing means may be detachably mounted to the seat booster.
Thereby, one seat booster serves for all requirements with regard to seat surface
width, as it provides a maximum seat surface width, when used without the seat width
narrowing means, and also provides each other desirable seat surface width between
the maximum and a minimum seat surface width, when used with the adjustable seat width
narrowing means. For mounting the seat width narrowing means to the seat booster,
any suitable mounting means may be used. Mounting means allowing a slidable mount
of the seat width narrowing means to the seat booster, such as one or more guiding
rails provided in the seat booster, are preferred.
[0015] Another seat modification element of the seat modification assembly may be formed
as a back support and especially as a lumbar support. Such a back support may be provided
in order to support a straight posture and ergonomic sitting position. It may be provided
in the form of a cushion having a flat rear side for facing the backrest of the passenger
seat, when mounted thereto, and a curved/bulged front side especially designed to
ergonomically support the lower back of a passenger. Different curvatures of the front
side of the back support or different dimensions of the bulge of the front side of
the back support may be provided so as to meet the different passenger requirements.
[0016] As an alternative to the back support or in addition thereto, still another seat
modification element of the seat modification assembly may be designed as a headrest
or head support. Such a headrest is advantageously used together with a seat booster
formed as a child seat and is then provided spaced to the seating surface of the seat
booster by a distance such that the head of a child seated on the seat booster is
securely supported by the headrest. In this connection, the safety of a child when
seated in such a modified passenger seat is further improved, as, even though a child
is already sitting in a raised position due to the seat booster, this raised position
is normally not enough for the child's head to be supported by the regular head support
of the passenger seat.
[0017] Such a headrest may be formed with head supporting means defining a head support
area of the headrest, wherein the headrest is advantageously adapted to adjust a width
of said head support area by adjustment of the head supporting means. Thereby, especially
a safe support of a head of a child using such a headrest is ensured. For example,
when used with a passenger seat in an aircraft, the width of the head support area
of the headrest may be closely adapted to a passenger's head during take-off and landing
and may be broadened to a more comfortable width to increase the freedom of movement
during the flight. In general, the headrest may be especially adapted to support a
head of a child. In this regard, the headrest may be formed in accordance with a headrest
part of a known child seat for use within a car.
[0018] According to the invention, an aircraft passenger seat is provided with a seat modification
assembly as described in the foregoing. Such an aircraft passenger seat further comprises
at least one mounting means adapted for cooperation with at least one mounting means
of the seat modification assembly. Such at least one mounting means may be a mounting
element, for example in the form of a zip element or a velcro element, corresponding
to a mounting element, such as a zip or a velcro element, of the seat modification
assembly. In other words, the mounting means of the aircraft passenger seat and those
of the seat modification assembly are adapted to interact so as to detachably attach
the seat modification assembly to the aircraft passenger seat. In detail, the at least
one mounting means of the aircraft passenger seat is adapted to cooperate with at
least one mounting means of the seat modification assembly so as to mount the at least
one seat modification element in a desired position on the aircraft passenger seat.
For example, such mounting means may be provided in a lower portion of the backrest
of the passenger seat so as to mount a seat modification element formed as a back
support. In addition or alternatively, such mounting means may be provided on a bottom
cushion of the aircraft passenger seat so as to mount a seat modification element
formed as a seat booster. In addition or alternative to one or both of the above,
such mounting means may be provided in a middle section or an upper portion of the
backrest of the aircraft passenger seat so as to mount a seat modification element
formed as a headrest.
[0019] In case of the mounting means on the backrest of the passenger seat are at least
one zip element, this zip element is preferably provided with a number of connecting
means equal to the number of seat modification elements to be mounted to this zip
element. In other words, for each seat modification element to be mounted, the respective
zip element on the backrest of the passenger seat is preferably provided with a separate
connecting assembly. In case the mounting means on the seat bottom cushion of the
passenger seat are at least one zip element, there may be only a single connecting
assembly on the seat bottom cushion side zip element, as only one seat modification
element is to be mounted thereto.
[0020] Especially with regard to the aircraft passenger seat mounting means for a seat modification
element designed as a back support or headrest, the mounting means of the aircraft
passenger seat advantageously extend in the longitudinal direction of the backrest,
at least within a lower backrest section and within an upper backrest section, for
mounting the back support and headrest, respectively. Thereby, the mounting means
of the aircraft passenger seat allow the attachment of one or more seat modification
elements attachable to the aircraft passenger seat backrest in different positions
along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft passenger seat backrest so as to fulfil
different ergonomic requirements of the passengers. In other words, when one or more
seat modification elements of the seat modification assembly are attached to the backrest
of a passenger seat, there are sections of the mounting means of the aircraft passenger
seat cooperating with mounting means of the seat modification assembly and non-cooperating
sections. I.e., the mounting means sections provided on the aircraft passenger seat
backrest are longer than the mounting means sections provided on the seat modification
elements to be mounted to the aircraft passenger seat backrest.
[0021] It is conceivable that the mounting means of the aircraft passenger seat provided
on a backrest of the passenger seat for cooperation with mounting means of the seat
modification assembly may be provided longitudinally along the whole passenger seat
backrest, thereby allowing one or more seat modification elements of the seat modification
assembly to be attached to the passenger seat backrest by using a common aircraft
passenger seat mounting means. For example, only two mounting means may be provided
on the aircraft passenger seat backrest, one extending along each side thereof. However,
there may also be separate mounting means provided on the aircraft passenger seat
backrest for cooperation with the mounting means of different seat modification elements.
For example, four mounting means may be provided on the aircraft passenger seat back
rest, two of which respectively extending section-wise along each side thereof for
respectively mounting a seat modification element formed as a back support and one
formed as a headrest.
[0022] Irrespective of the number of the mounting means provided on the aircraft passenger
seat for cooperation with mounting means of seat modification elements of the seat
modification assembly, the mounting means on the aircraft passenger seat are positioned
such that they do not bother a passenger sitting in an aircraft passenger seat not
provided with a seat modification assembly. In other words, it is preferable that
the mounting means of the aircraft passenger seat are provided on side surfaces of
the seat, especially on side surfaces of the bottom seat cushion and the backrest
cushion of the aircraft passenger seat, i.e., not on a surface of the seat a passenger
is supposed to sit or lean on.
[0023] In case, at least one mounting means of the aircraft passenger seat is a velcro,
the mounting means provided on the aircraft passenger seat are designed with velcro
loops and the corresponding mounting means of the seat modification element of the
seat modification assembly to be used with the aircraft passenger seat are provided
with velcro hooks. Thereby, clothes of a passenger sitting in an aircraft passenger
seat not provided with a seat modification assembly will not get caught by the mounting
means.
[0024] In general, each seat modification element may be formed as a cushion so that an
aircraft passenger seat provided with a seat modification assembly is provided with
at least one additional cushion, such as an additional seat bottom cushion, an additional
lumbar cushion and/or an additional headrest cushion.
[0025] As a consequence, this invention gives the passengers the possibility to modify a
standard offered seat within any mass transport vehicle and especially within an aircraft
by adding different seat modification elements, such as, for example, different seat
cushions, to generate a most comfortable seat for every passenger. Thereby, a higher
flexibility of the seat layout is achieved and a higher comfort for passengers can
be offered on demand.
[0026] By using common mounting means for attaching a seat modification element to the passenger
seat, some configurations of the seat layout may even be changed by the passenger
itself, thereby allowing him/her to adapt the sitting or resting position during the
travel without the need to call someone for help, for example, a crew member in an
aircraft. What seat modifications are possible and how they may be achieved can be
described in a seating manual.
[0027] Especially within an aircraft, in dependence of the preference of the airline or
the passengers, such seat layout modifications may only be performed by the cabin
crew during a standard turn-around time or also on demand during the flight. Further,
the described seat comfort modification gives the airline the possibility to react
with flexibility to different flight scenarios, destinations, passenger numbers, different
passenger sizes (women, men, kids) and also different passenger classes. For example,
economy class seats may be easily switched to business class or at least economy plus
class seats by providing them with an additional and more comfortable seat bottom
cushion and/or lumbar cushion. The flexible seat layout thus gives an airline the
possibility to easily switch between classes on demand, for example, in dependence
of the respective booking numbers.
[0028] All in all, the described seat layout modifications increase the seating comfort,
allow a flexible seat layout which is easy to handle for everybody and especially
also fulfil the general requirements for aircrafts, such as low weight and low costs
of manufacturing and use.
[0029] Especially with regard to use in an aircraft, the flexible comfort modification can
be realized as a marketing standard, thereby allowing airlines an advantage over others.
The option of individual seat comfort modification may arouse the interest of a passenger
for the airline which will positively affect the number of bookings for a flight.
A key point for the airlines is the option to charge an extra fee if a passenger wants
to make us of seat comfort modification. Thereby, the profit of the airline may be
maximized.
[0030] There now follows a detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention
with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which show in
- Fig. 1
- a regular aircraft passenger seat and additional cushions in the form of a seat booster
and a lumbar support to be used with the regular passenger seat according to a first
embodiment of the invention,
- Fig. 2
- a row of three regular passenger seats each provided with a seat booster cushion and
a lumbar cushion as shown in Fig. 1,
- Fig. 3
- a regular passenger seat and a seat booster in the form of a child seat and a headrest
to be used with the regular passenger seat according to a second embodiment of the
present invention,
- Fig. 4
- the regular passenger seat of Figure 3 provided with the child seat and the headrest
shown in Fig. 3,
- Fig. 5
- a side view of a section of a backrest of a regular passenger seat to which a back
support in the form of a lumbar cushion is mounted by a zip, and in
- Fig. 6
- a side view of a section of a bottom seat cushion of a regular passenger seat to which
a seat booster is mounted by a zip.
[0031] Fig. 1 shows a regular passenger seat 10 usually provided within an aircraft cabin.
As shown in Fig. 1, this regular passenger seat 10 may be provided with different
seat modification elements, for example, different additional cushions. According
to the first embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, these additional cushions are a seat bottom
cushion 12 and a back support in the form of a lumbar cushion 14. The additional seat
bottom cushion 12 in Fig. 1 has the form of a seat booster and, besides the fact that
the seating height is raised, is designed in a similar way as a seat bottom cushion
16 of the regular passenger seat 10 shown in Fig. 1, at least with regard to degree
of hardness and molded seat geometry. The additional lumbar cushion 14 is designed
to serve as a support for the lower back of a passenger when sitting in a passenger
seat 10 provided with the lumbar cushion 14 (Fig. 2). The lumbar cushion 14 has a
curved/bolded front surface 18 for supporting the lower back of a passenger and a
generally flat back surface (not shown) facing a backrest 20 of the regular passenger
seat 10, when mounted thereto. In general, the curvature or the dimension of the bulge
of the front surface 18 of the lumbar cushion 14 is chosen so as to ergonomically
support the lower back of a passenger, when seated.
[0032] Fig. 2 shows a triple seat row within an aircraft passenger cabin with each of the
regular passenger seats 10 being provided with an additional seat bottom cushion 12
and an additional lumbar cushion 14, as shown in and described before with reference
to Fig. 1. As is visible from Fig. 2, the lumbar cushions 14 are respectively attached
to the backrests 20 of the regular passenger seats 10 spaced a predetermined distance
from the seating surface now defined by the additional seat bottom cushions 12 respectively
provided on each of the regular passenger seats 10, so as to support the lower back
of a passenger when seated in such a modified passenger seat 10. As described in the
following with reference to Fig. 5, this distance or mounting height of the lumbar
cushions 14 is individually adjustable within given sections of the backrests 20 of
the regular passenger seats 10.
[0033] The seat comfort modification as shown in Fig. 2 or at least parts thereof may especially
be offered to an adult person or taller child booked on an economy class seat but
may also be offered for any other passenger seat within an aircraft cabin or even
on the cockpit seats.
[0034] Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, according to which an
additional seat bottom cushion 22 with which a regular passenger seat 10 may be provided
is formed as a child seat. The child seat may be simply designed in accordance with
a known child seat for use in cars for children at an age at which they are still
supposed to use a seat booster. Such a child seat bottom cushion 22 may be provided
instead of the additional seat bottom cushion 12 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on a regular
passenger seat 10.
[0035] The child seat bottom cushion 22 is advantageously designed with seat width narrowing
means 24 which may be adapted to adjust the width of the seat of the child seat bottom
cushion 22 to a child to be seated in the child seat bottom cushion 22. In addition,
the child seat bottom cushion 22 may also be provided with armrests 26 to increase
the comfort of a child, when seated thereon. According to the embodiment shown in
Fig. 3, such armrests 26 are integrally formed with the seat width narrowing means
24, thereby advantageously building a recess 28 for guiding a seat belt.
[0036] Apart from the features specially described with reference to the child seat shown
in Fig. 3, the child seat bottom cushion 22 and its seating surface may also be designed
similar to the additional seat bottom cushion 12 described before with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2, at least with regard to degree of hardness and molded seat geometry.
[0037] Instead of the lumbar cushion 14 described for the comfort modification shown in
Figs. 1 and 2 with reference to the first embodiment of the present invention, the
seat modification assembly shown in Fig. 3 further comprises a head support cushion
30. The head support cushion 30, which is formed as a headrest, comprises head supporting
means 32, which, according to Fig. 3, are generally U-shaped in order to support a
head of a child, especially between the two legs of the U. These head supporting means
32 define a head support area of the headrest 30, wherein the width of said head support
area is preferably adjustable. It is for example conceivable that the two legs of
the U-shape of the head supporting means 32 are pivotable with respect to the headrest
30 so as to selectively increase the width of the head support area to provide the
child's head with a comfortable movement range at least after having reached the flight
altitude. During take-off and landing, it is however preferred to narrow the head
support area defined by the head supporting means 32 so as to securely support the
child's head.
[0038] Fig. 4 shows a regular passenger seat 10 provided with the child seat bottom cushion
22 and the head support cushion 30, shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 4, the child
seat bottom cushion 22, when installed on the seat bottom cushion 16 of the regular
passenger seat 10, provides a narrowed seating surface in a raised sitting position.
In a predefined distance from the seating surface of the child seat bottom cushion
22, the head support cushion 30 is mounted to the backrest 20 of the regular passenger
seat 10, wherein the distance is such that the head of a child seated on the child
seat bottom cushion 22 is securely supported by the head support cushion 30.
[0039] Fig. 5 shows one way of mounting a back support, such as a lumbar cushion 14, to
the backrest 20 of a regular passenger seat 10. In Fig. 5, a zip configuration is
shown as cooperating mounting means 34, wherein a first zip element 34a is provided
on the lumbar cushion 14 and a second zip element 34b is provided on the backrest
20 of the regular passenger seat 10. Advantageously, the lumbar cushion 14 is attachable
to the backrest 20 in different positions along the longitudinal axis of the backrest
20 of the regular passenger seat 10. Therefore, the first zip element 34a provided
on the backrest 20 of the regular passenger seat 10 is longer than the second zip
element 34b provided on the lumbar cushion 14. Preferably, the first zip element 34a
is two times the length of the second zip element 34b and extends in a longitudinal
section of a lower portion of the backrest 20 so that the lumbar cushion 14 may be
selectively mounted in the right position for each passenger, irrespective of the
use of a seat booster in the form of an additional seat bottom cushion 12 or a child
seat 22.
[0040] As shown in Fig. 5, the cooperating zip elements 34a, 34b of the lumbar cushion 14
and the backrest 20 of the regular passenger seat 10 are respectively provided on
a side face 36 of the lumbar cushion 14 and a side face 38 of the backrest 20 of the
regular passenger seat 10. Thereby, the seating comfort of a passenger is not affected
in case no seat comfort modification is used.
[0041] Even though only one zip configuration 34 is visible in Fig. 5, the lumbar cushion
14 and the backrest 20 of the regular passenger seat 10 are respectively provided
with a further, namely a second zip configuration similar to the one shown in Fig.
5 on the opposite side faces (not shown) of the lumbar cushion 14 and backrest 20.
[0042] As shown in Fig. 6, also the additional seat bottom cushion 12 may be mounted to
the seat bottom cushion 16 of the regular passenger seat 10 by at least one zip configuration
40. For mounting the additional seat bottom cushion 12 to the seat bottom cushion
16 of the regular passenger seat 10, cooperating zip elements 40a, 40b respectively
provided on the additional seat bottom cushion 12 and the seat bottom cushion 16 of
the regular passenger seat 10 are equal in the length and respectively arranged such
that the additional seat bottom cushion 12 may be installed over the regular seat
bottom cushion 16. As described before for mounting the lumbar cushion 14, also the
zip elements 40a, 40b of the additional seat bottom cushion 12 and the regular seat
bottom cushion 16 are provided on side faces 42, 44 thereof. Thereby, the seating
comfort of a passenger is not affected when seated on the regular seat bottom cushion
16 not provided with the additional seat bottom cushion 12. Further, also for installing
the additional seat bottom cushion 12, an additional second zip configuration on the
opposite side faces (not shown) of the additional seat bottom cushion 12 and the regular
seat bottom cushion 16 is advantageously provided, the second zip configuration being
similar to the first zip configuration.
[0043] The child seat bottom cushion 22 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be installed to the
regular seat bottom cushion 16 of the regular passenger seat 10 in the same way as
described for the additional seat bottom cushion 12 with reference to Fig. 6.
[0044] Further, the head support cushion 30 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be installed on the
backrest 20 of the regular passenger seat 10 in the same way as described for the
lumbar cushion 14 with reference to Fig. 5.
[0045] Instead of a zip, also a velcro may be used for attaching the additional seat bottom
cushion 12, the additional lumbar cushion 14, the child seat bottom cushion 22 and/or
the head support cushion 30 to a regular passenger seat 10. In this regard, the velcro
element/s with the loop surface is/are advantageously provided on the regular passenger
seat 10 and the velcro element/s with the hook surface on the respective seat modification
element/s, such as the additional seat bottom cushion 12, the additional lumbar cushion
14, the child seat bottom cushion 22 and/or the head support cushion 30. Thereby,
clothes of a passenger may not get caught by the velcro hooks, when sitting on a regular
passenger seat 10 not provided with one or more such seat modification elements. In
general, the mounting means features described before with specific reference to the
zip configuration also apply for the velcro configuration.
[0046] With regard to a regular passenger seat 10 which is to be used with a back support,
such is a lumbar cushion 14, and/or a head support cushion 30, the backrest 20 of
the regular passenger seat 10 may be provided with a single zip or a single velcro
element on each side surface 38 of the backrest 20, thereby allowing both or only
one of the back support 14 and the headrest 30 to be installed on the backrest 20
of the regular passenger seat 10 by the only one zip/velcro element on the backrest
side. However, it is also conceivable that the side surfaces 38 of the backrest 20
of the regular passenger seat 10 are provided with a plurality, especially four zip/velcro
elements, two of which respectively provided for cooperation with zip/velcro elements
on a lumbar cushion 14 and a headrest 30.
[0047] The above described embodiments allow an easy way to enhance/individualize the seating
comfort in a regular passenger seat and also to enhance the security of children when
travelling in a mass transport vehicle. A higher comfort for adult passengers and
a higher security for children may be reached in an easy way according to the invention
by installing some additional cushions on regularly offered passenger seats within
an aircraft cabin or other mass transport vehicle. As the installation of such additional
cushions may simply be achieved by the use of a zip or velcro configuration or also
by any other common mounting means, such as, for example, push buttons, seat comfort
modification may be performed by every passenger itself and according to his/her own
preferences on demand. Thereby, each passenger has the opportunity to enjoy a more
comfortable sitting or relaxing position when travelling. Advantageously, a zip or
velcro is used for mounting the additional cushions to the regular passenger seat
as both of these mounting means are very light weight, inexpensive and also easy to
handle for everybody. Further they do not take much space.
1. Seat modification assembly for use with a passenger seat (10) provided in a mass transport
vehicle, especially an aircraft, the seat modification assembly comprising:
at least one seat modification element (12; 14; 22; 30) adapted to change the ergonomic
seating profile of a passenger seat (10) provided with the seat modification assembly,
wherein the at least one seat modification element (12; 14; 22; 30) comprises at least
one mounting means (34a, 40a) adapted for detachably mounting the seat modification
element (12; 14; 22; 30) to a portion (16; 20) of the passenger seat (10).
2. Seat modification assembly according to claim 1, wherein a first seat modification
element of the seat modification assembly is formed as a seat booster (12; 22).
3. Seat modification assembly according to claim 2, wherein the seat booster (22) is
provided with seat width narrowing means (24).
4. Seat modification assembly according to claim 3, wherein the seat width narrowing
means (24) are provided with armrests (26).
5. Seat modification assembly according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the seat width narrowing
means (24) are adapted to adjust the width of the seat of the seat booster (22).
6. Seat modification assembly according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the seat booster
is formed as a child seat (22) or an additional seat bottom cushion adapted to ergonomically
support a handicapped person.
7. Seat modification assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a second seat
modification element of the seat modification assembly is formed as a back support
(14).
8. Seat modification assembly according to claim 7, wherein the back support (14) is
formed as a lumbar support.
9. Seat modification assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a second seat
modification element of the seat modification assembly is formed as a headrest (30).
10. Seat modification assembly according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a third seat modification
element of the seat modification assembly is formed as a headrest (30).
11. Seat modification assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the headrest (30) is
formed with head supporting means (32) defining a head support area of the headrest
(30), and the headrest (30) is adapted to adjust a width of said head support area.
12. Seat modification assembly according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the headrest
(30) is adapted to support a head of a child.
13. Seat modification assembly according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first,
second and/or third seat modification element has/have sections with different degrees
of hardness.
14. Aircraft passenger seat (10) comprising:
a seat modification assembly according to one of claims 1 to 13, and
at least one mounting means (34b; 40b) adapted for cooperation with at least one mounting
means (34a; 40a) of the seat modification assembly,
wherein the at least one mounting means (34b; 40b) of the aircraft passenger seat
(10) is adapted to cooperate with at least one mounting means (34a; 40a) of the seat
modification assembly so as to detachably mount the at least one seat modification
element (12; 14; 22; 30) in a desired position at the aircraft passenger seat (10).
15. Seat modification assembly according to one of claims 1 to 13 or aircraft passenger
seat (10) according to claim 14, wherein the at least one mounting means (34a; 40a)
of the seat modification assembly and/or the at least one mounting means (34b; 40b)
of the aircraft passenger seat (10) is a zip or velcro.